Dr. Patricio Bernal Ponce (1945 - 2022): Descansa en Paz y Navega en el Mar de la Eternidad

Patricio fue un ejemplo para la juventud de Chile, Patricio Descansa en Paz y Navega en el Mar de la Eternidad, como decimos los Hermanos de la Costa de Chile cuando despedimos a un Hermano, Adiós Patricio, Amigo y Compañero

Posible predisposición a embolia pulmonar en el delfín rosado Inia geoffrensis (Blainville, 1817) por contaminación con mercurio en su ecosistema

The Amazonian River Dolphin is an odontocete and therefore a top predator in its ecosystem, it inhabits the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, covering seven countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, Brazil and Venezuela. The natural concentrations of mercury (Hg) that have been released into the habitat of this freshwater dolphin is ancients, therefore, the bioaccumulation levels of this contaminant in the food web, increases progressively. In addition, it is known that aquatic mammal species have the capacity to neutralize the toxicity of Mercury (Hg), through the formation of a chemical complex with Selenium (Se), called "Tiamannita". Consequently, when this complex is formed, the bioavailability of Se as an antioxidant is reduced, which predisposes to the origin of pathologies such as Steatitis. This yellow fat disease, forms fatty emboli in the blood vessels, especially in the capillaries of the lung, causing disorders in the circulation of this vital respiratory organ, ending with the death of the animal, when the disease is severely present. Consequently, the aim of this work is to review some aspects from Hg and its relationship between Se, and the steatitis caused by the Tiemannita complex, which generates the mortality of the Amazonian river dolphin in the Colombian Amazon ecosystem.El delfín rosado es un odontoceto y como tal es un predador tope en su ecosistema donde habita, en los ríos Amazonas y Orinoco, abarcando siete países: Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia, Guyana, Brasil y Venezuela. Las concentraciones naturales de mercurio (Hg) que se han liberado en el hábitat de este delfín de agua dulce es antigua, por tanto, los niveles de bioacumulación de este contaminante en la red trófica, aumenta de manera progresiva. Además, se conoce que las especies de mamíferos acuáticos tienen la capacidad de neutralizar la toxicidad del Mercurio (Hg), a través de la formación de un complejo químico con el Selenio (Se), denominado“ Tiamannita”. Naturalmente que, al formar este complejo, se reduce la biodisponibilidad del Se como antioxidante, lo que predispone al origen de patologías como la conocida esteatitis. Esta enfermedad de la grasa amarilla, forma émbolos grasos en los vasos sanguíneos, especialmente en los capilares del pulmón, provocando trastornos en la circulación de este órgano vital respiratorio, finalizando con la muerte del animal, cuando la enfermedad se presenta severamente. En consecuencia, el objetivo de este trabajo fue revisar los aspectos del Hg y su relación con el Se y la esteatitis originada por el complejo Tiemannita, lo que genera la mortalidad del delfín rosado en el ecosistema amazónico de Colombia

A new mass stranding of false killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens, in the Strait of Magellan, Chile

We report the mass stranding of 46 false killer whales in the Strait of Magellan in February 2013. We present observation-based information about body size, sex, dental formula and necropsies. Sexual dimorphism in body length was clear, with males being significantly larger than females. Dental formula coincided with previous reports for the species, with asymmetry present in females. Individuals showed normal body conditions without any signs of apparent disease. The cause of the stranding remains unknown, however the coastal morphology hypothesis is a possible explanation.Fil: Haro, Daniela. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Aguayo Lobo, Anelio. Instituto Antártico Chileno; ChileFil: Blank, Olivia. Clínica Veterinaria Timaukel; ChileFil: Cifuentes, Constanza. Universidad Mayor; ChileFil: Dougnac, Catherine. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Arredondo, Cristóbal. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Pardo, Catalina. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Cáceres Saez, Iris. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin

Macro-elements K, Na, Cl, Mg, and Ca in body tissues of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) from the Southern Ocean

Macro-elements such as potassium (K), sodium (Na), chlorine (Cl), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca) are essential in marine mammals’ nutrition. These elements are involved in physiological processes. Upon consumption, they are assimilated and accumulate in tissues. For the first time, they were detected in lung, spleen, liver, kidney, muscle, uterus, ovary, and testis of 5, and in skin of 12, stranded false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) in sub-Antarctic waters of the South Atlantic Ocean. Results showed that testis reached the highest potassium mean concentration, 1.62 (0.25) wt% dry weight (DW) (standard deviation in parentheses), followed by muscle, 1.11 (0.12) wt% DW, and decreasing in skin to 0.351 (0.098) wt% DW. Testis and lung exhibited among the highest sodium concentrations, with 0.96 (0.20) and 0.93 (0.18) wt% DW, respectively. Chlorine concentration was highest in testis, (1.55 wt% DW) followed by uterus (1.26 wt% DW) and kidney [1.13 (0.16) wt% DW]. Magnesium reached higher concentrations in uterus (0.134 wt% DW) and muscle [0.109 (0.054) wt% DW]. Calcium was higher in lung [0.230 (0.05) wt% DW] and kidney (0.149; 0.294 wt% DW). Hepatic levels of K, Na, Cl, and Mg in false killer whales are generally within the range of other studied species, while Ca levels are the highest reported. Macro-element concentration ranges were established for diverse tissues and organs of the false killer whale as the current best available baseline reference values for assessments of general condition.Fil: Cáceres Saez, Iris. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Haro, Daniela. Universidad Santo Tomás (ust);Fil: Blank, Olivia. No especifíca;Fil: Aguayo Lobo, Anelio. No especifíca;Fil: Dougnac, Catherine. Wildlife Conservation Society; ChileFil: Arredondo, Cristóbal. Wildlife Conservation Society; ChileFil: Cappozzo, Humberto Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Ribeiro, Sergio. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; Argentin

PRESENCE OF THE LEOPARD SEAL, HYDRURGA LEPTONYX (DE BLAINVILLE, 1820), ON THE COAST OF CHILE: AN EXAMPLE OF THE ANTARCTICA - SOUTH AMERICA CONNECTION IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Sightings of 114 leopard seals, Hydrurga leptonyx, have been recorded along the Chilean coasts from 1944 to 2010. Mostly immature seals occurred in northern and central Chile (18°30´S-39°59´S), especially in winter, while immature and adult individuals of both sexes and in good condition were commonly sighted year-round in glacial areas of southern Chile, especially Tierra del Fuego (south of 53°43´S), suggesting that this Antarctic species can be consider as a regular member of the marine fauna of Chile, with occasionally hauling out on the northern coastline not as vagrants, but as seasonal transients. Keeping in mind data limitation, we discuss some ways of northern dispersion and the subsequent residence of some animals in the Southern region of South America. These include, respectively: the close proximity of the Fueguian channels with the Antarctic Peninsula facilitated by the northward extension of the Antarctic pack ice during winter and/or through the influence of the Malvinas current; and the suitable habitat of the Fuegian channels, with similar characteristics to the Antarctic environment and locally abundant food resources.PRESENCIA  DE  LA  FOCA  LEOPARDO,  HYDRURGA  LEPTONYX  (DE  BLAINVILLE,  1820)  EN  LA COSTA DE CHILE: UN EJEMLO DE CONEXIÓN DE AMBIENTE MARINO ENTRE ANTÁRTICA Y AMÉRICA DEL SUR.  Entre 1927 y 2010, 115 focas leopardos, Hydrurga leptonyx, han sido egistradas a  lo  largo  de  la  costa  chilena.  En  la  región  centro-norte  (18°20´S-39°59´S),  especialmente  en  invierno,  la mayoría de los registros corresponden a individuos inmaduros; mientras que ejemplares maduros e inmaduros de ambos sexos y en buenas condiciones físicas son avistados durante todo el año, en áreas de glaciares del sur de Chile, especialmente en Tierra del Fuego (sur de los 53°43´S), sugiriendo que esta especie antártica puede ser considerado como un miembro regular de la fauna marina de Chile, con presencia ocasional en las costas norteñas, como vagabundo estacional. Teniendo en cuenta la limitación de los datos, discutimos algunas vías de dispersión hacia el norte y la presencia durante todo el año de los animales en la región austral de América del Sur. Estas incluyen, respectivamente: la cercana proximidad de los canales fueguinos con la Península Antártica, facilitado por la extensión hacia el norte del hielo marino antártico durante el invierno y/o a través de la influencia de la corriente de las Malvinas; y el hábitat apropiado de los canales fueguinos, con características similares al ambiente Antártico y abundante recursos alimenticios locales. Palabras claves: Foca leopardo; Chile; América del Sur; Océano austral.PRESENÇA DA FOCA-LEOPARDO, HYDRURGA LEPTONYX (DE BLAINVILLE, 1820), NA COSTA DO CHILE: UM EXEMPLO DA CONEXÃO ENTRE ANTÁRTICA E AMÉRICA DO SUL NO AMBIENTE MARINHO.  Entre 1927 e 2010, 115 focas-leopardo, Hydrurga leptonyx, foram avistadas ao longo da costa Chilena. Na região centro-norte (18°20´S-39°59´S), especialmente no inverno, a maioria dos registros esteve representada por indivíduos imaturos. Indivíduos imaturos e adultos de ambos os sexos ocorreram ao longo do ano, em boas condições físicas, em áreas glaciais da região sul do Chile, especialmente na Terra do Fogo (ao sul de 53°43´S). Nesta revisão, há evidências robustas para sugerir que a espécie é uma visitante regular da fauna Antártica em território austral chileno, ocorrendo eventualmente como vadios sazonais na costa norte do país. Apesar das limitações inerentes aos dados, discutem-se sobre a dispersão da espécie em direção ao norte e subsequente presença de indivíduos na porção austral da América do Sul. Estas incluem respectivamente: a proximidade entre os canais Foguinos e a Península Antártica, favorecida pela expansão da capa de gelo em direção ao norte durante o inverno e/ou pela influência da corrente das Malvinas; o habitat adequado nos canais Foguinos, com características similares àquelas do ambiente Antártico, somado à presença de recursos alimentares localmente abundantes. Palavras-chave: Foca-leopardo; Chile; América do Sul; Oceano Austral

Dr. William Fergus Perrin: 20 Agosto, 1938 - 11 Julio, 2022

Obituario en la memoria del Dr. William Fergus Perri

Duración del proceso de parición y presentación del feto en el lobo marino común, Otaria flavescens en Punta Negra, Iquique, Chile

Here we document the time involved and the influence of fetus orientation in the birthing process of Otaria flavescens. Our results show that breeching was significantly more frequent than cephalic orientation. The complete birthing process took in average 47.57 min, being the breech orientation significantly longest that the cephalic orientation, particularly from the time of appearance of the amniotic-allantoids sac to placenta in the vulva. Although the adaptive mechanisms involved in the complex process of evolution toward an aquatic life are ongoing, further study of birthing processes are recommended, which could in future provide indicators on such adaptive advantages